The choice between motherhood and career is perhaps never as hard to make as in Hollywood, where actresses’ awareness of their age-related shelf-life inevitably battles with the ticking of their biological clock. Time taken out from a career to become pregnant can result in a permanent curtain call rather than a nine-month period of “resting”.
Now, exchanging one side of the camera for another, American actress Rosanna Arquette is shooting a documentrary which examines the challenges facing actresses as they juggle their personal lives and careers. Among those to share their experiences with her are Meg Ryan, Holly Hunter, Charlotte Rampling and Vanessa Redgrave.
The working title for the film is Searching For Debra Winger, a reference to the Terms Of Endearment actress’ decision to quit the business as she reached the peak of her career. “As a fan I wanted to know why Debra Winger, a truly amazing actress, left the business,” explains Rosanna, adding: “The movie is really about balancing career and family.”
Next to share their experiences are Kim Basinger – whose estranged husband Alec Baldwin has declared his intention of trying to win her back – Kate Hudson and Tara Reid.
The subject is one which cannot fail to strike a chord with Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker, who has been speaking out recently about her fear of having children because of the damage it could do to her career. “There are fewer and fewer parts, and it’s hard to make a decision and toss it all aside for a year and have children and see what happens when you come back,” she said in a recent interview.
The 36-year-old actress, who is married to Matthew Broderick, says she understands Hollywood’s current spate of celebrity adoptions and the desire “to just keep it going, to keep dancing as fast as you can”.
“There’s never a right time, that’s what everyone says, and I don’t want to have too much time pass by and not do it.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
